A/N: Before we begin, I have an announcement. This fanfic has now been viewed over 2 million times! BANZAI! Okay, that's all. On with the chapter.
-On the Merry-
Chopper, Gin, Vivi, Alvida, and Carue were on their ship talking to Gan Fall and Pierre while they were all recovering from their battle with Shura and Fuza.
"I must admit, I had no idea that you would be powerful enough to defeat one of the Priests of Upper Yard," Gan Fall said. "And you're not all even here. Truly impressive."
"You make it sound like everyone who comes from the Blue Sea are weak." Gin said with a smirk.
"Many others have come before you since Enel's reign, and each have either been defeated effortlessly by the Priests, or have run." Gan Fall replied.
"Guess that makes us the odd ones out." Alvida said with a smile while Chopper examined the burn on her side while in his 1/2 form, a sad look in his eyes. "Something wrong?" she asked when she noticed his expression.
"I couldn't...I couldn't do anything." Chopper confessed. "He was just too strong. And I was scared!"
"Chopper," Gin started before Vivi held a hand up to stop him and walked over to Chopper.
"There's nothing wrong with being afraid," Vivi said in a soft voice as she gently placed her hand on his shoulder. "Even if we don't say it, we're all afraid."
"You...you were?" he asked as he looked up at her, then the others. Vivi nodded with a smile while the others just shrugged and looked away. Chopper could help but cry before jumping onto the railing and shouting out, "I PROMISE TO DO BETTER AND BE A MORE RELIABLE MAN!"
"Okay then," Gin said as he handed Chopper some wooden planks. "Start by helping us fix the ship."
"Right!" Chopper yelled with a smile.
"By the way, who exactly is Enel?" Vivi asked as they began repairing the ship again. Gan Fall placed his hands together before resting his chin on them, deep in thought as to where to begin.
"Enel is this land's current God." Gan Fall started. "He appeared six years ago with his army and effortlessly dethroned the last God that ruled over this land."
"So, he's not really God?" Alvida asked as they all began to listen to the story.
"No. God is just a title up here. But...his powers are terrifying enough that everyone considers him a God." Gan Fall explained. Vivi's expression hardened at his words as she thought of the similarities between her home and Sky Island. She was broken out of her thoughts when they all heard shouting coming from the shore.
"Hey! Anyone alive over there?!" Valerie yelled.
"It seems that your friends have returned." said Gan Fall as they all looked to see Zoro and the others on the island.
"Not all of them." said Gin.
"All we need now is for those who were with Conis and her father earlier to show up and we'll all be together again." said Alvida as Chopper jumped up onto the railing to see the others.
"ZORO! NAMI! ROBIN! VALERIE! JOHNNY! YOSAKU!" he cried out each name in joy, tears rolling down his face.
"Speaking of Luffy and the others, do you think they got mixed up in those explosions we've been hearing?" Vivi said to them all.
"Knowing Luffy, probably." Gin replied with a knowing smirk.
-Luffy's group-
Luffy, Sanji, Usopp, Nojiko, and Grace were sailing upon the Milky Road as it made it's way towards the Sacrificial Altar. If they weren't in a hurry, most of them would be enjoying the hazardous ride as the Milky Road spiralled and looped many times before coming out into a clear plain.
"This doesn't look good." Sanji said as he exhaled some smoke.
"OF COURSE IT DOESN'T LOOK GOOD! LOOK AROUND US! THERE ARE SKULLS MOUNTED ON SPIKES EVERYWHERE!" Usopp shrieked as he looked around, a crazed and scared look in his eyes.
"Is this another Ordeal?" Nojiko asked as Grace stuck close to her.
"Wait!" Usopp whispered. "I thought I heard something!"
"We've got company." Luffy said, a serious look on his face. Just as he said that, a group of Shadians appeared and flew over their heads, surprising them before Wiper turned upside-down and fired a shot at them with his bazooka, which was deflected by Luffy's Gum Gum Balloon.
"That was close!" Grace sighed as Usopp still looked ready to pass out.
"What the heck was that?!" one of the warriors asked as they stared back at the ship. "How'd he do that?!"
"Paramecia." Wiper said. "He has the power of a Devil Fruit, which allows him to perform super-human feats." He then glared at them all before shouting out to them. "YOU MUST BE THE BLUE SEA DWELLERS THAT HAVE BEEN CAUSING AN UPROAR ON SKYPIEA! IF YOU VALUE YOUR LIVES, LEAVE NOW! OTHERWISE, WE'LL KILL YOU ALONG WITH ENEL!"
"What's his problem?" Grace asked while Usopp tried to tell Luffy that they should go.
"YOU'RE NOT THE BOSS OF ME!" Luffy yelled, though he was smiling.
"Oi, Luffy! Don't piss those guys off!" Usopp begged as they continued on, the Shandians already leaving to deal with the remaining Priests.
"I know you love fighting, but let's not ask for trouble. Alright?" Nojiko asked as she sat near the mast. "That attack from that fat Priest still stings."
"Alright." Luffy whined before looking ahead. They kept on sailing until the sky turned red, signaling that night was coming soon.
"Looks like we may be going for another ride." Sanji stated as they climbed up the tallest tree around.
"Oh no! Not another spiral!" Usopp yelled.
"Oh look! Skysharks!" Luffy said with a big grin as they began falling towards them.
"Oh good. No more Priests for us to-WAIT! WHAT?! SHIT! SKYSHARKS!"
"Luffy! Do something!" Grace yelled.
"On it!" Luffy yelled as he sat on the ship's figurehead and unleashed a Gum Gum Gatling upon the sharks, knocking them all out and leaving the area safe for them to sail. "That was easy." he said before his grin widened. "Look! It's the Merry! HEEEY!" he shouted. Those on the ship and on shore saw the Little Crow approaching, with everyone on board yelling and asking if everyone was alright.
"It appears that all of your crew are together again." Gan Fall stated.
"Seems that way." Alvida said with a smile as the Little Crow sailed towards the steps of the altar just as those on shore swung back over by vine.
"Are you ladies alright?!" Sanji asked as he looked at the women in worry.
"And what about the rest of us?" Johnny asked. Sanji just looked at them for a moment before taking of puff of his cigarette.
"You look fine to me." he said as he exhaled smoke.
"That's all?!" Yosaku yelled.
"Why are parts of the ship covered in candy syrup?" Usopp asked as he looked at the bits of blue goop everywhere.
"Oh yeah!" Chopper yelled before looking at Zoro's group. "Some mean jerk riding a bird came here after you guys left and wanted to burn the ship and us to ashes!"
"Is that why the ship looks like this?" Zoro asked as he looked around the ship before spotting Gan Fall. "Oh, the weird knight's here too."
"I am the Knight of the Sky, Gan Fall." Gan Fall stated.
"Still, I'm just glad everyone's okay." Usopp said while smiling down at Chopper, who smiled back up with tears in his eyes.
"AH! What happened to you Alvida?!" Sanji yelled in panic when he saw her bandaged arm.
"Oh this?" she asked as she looked at her arm. "That guy with the hot lance just burned me. Nothing too serious."
"That bastard!" Sanji growled, a dark look in his eyes and a muscle on his forehead. "I'll kill him!"
"Too late." Gin grinned as he looked over the ship to a red area of sea cloud. "I already took care of him."
"So that means two of the four Priests are down." Nojiko said.
"Two?" Gan Fall said in confusion.
"We ran into another Priest named Satori." Grace answered.
"But thanks to my quick thinking, I easily overpowered that fat ball of crap!" Usopp boasted.
"With our help, right?" Nojiko asked while shooting him a dark grin.
"Uh, yeah! It was a team effort!" Usopp quickly stated with a nervous laugh.
"Two Priests in one day?" Gan Fall whispered in amazement, with Pierre wearing an equal look of shock on his beak. "Unbelievable."
"Actually, it's pretty much the norm for our crew." said Alvida with a smirk.
"Alright everyone," Usopp said. "Let's get to the shore." After a few trips by boat and vine, everyone was now on the shore. Vivi, Carue, Alvida, Nami, Luffy, Sanji, Chopper, Usopp, Gan Fall, and Pierre stayed behind while everyone else ventured off to gather food.
"Hey old knight. Is Conis-chan okay?" Sanji asked as he barbecued a Skyshark for Luffy, who was being taught how to pitch a tent by Usopp.
"She and her father are alright. They are both safe at my home, safe from Enel's wrath." Gan Fall explained.
"That's good." Sanji said with a smile before looking at Luffy. "Hey! The Skyshark's ready."
"Alright!" Luffy yelled before he began chowing down on the skyshark, leaving Usopp to pitch the tent.
"No, go ahead. Have a snack. I got this." Usopp whispered in irritation as he pitched the tent. Soon the crew came back and were now getting prepared for dinner, which was Hot Rock Stew. While the food was cooking, Usopp had everyone say what had happened to their groups.
"Well," Sanji started. "We ran into a Priest named Satori, who used these weird clouds full of just about anything you could think of to attack us. He had Observation Haki, though those guys up here call it Mantra. Still, nothing we couldn't handle."
"We also encountered a Priest. He rode upon a bird that spewed fire, and had a lance that was hot enough to set whatever it touched ablaze." Vivi explained.
"But that guy's history now." Gin added with a dark chuckle.
"Scary." Chopper whispered as he backed away.
"Sounds like you guys had a tough time." Nami said.
"Kinda sad I missed all the fun." Zoro said with a grin.
"Well, we discovered that Skypiea is actually a part of Jaya. The City of Gold didn't sink all those years ago. It was blasted up here." Nami finished.
"Alright! So here's what we know!" Usopp yelled while pointing at the chalkboard. "The Priests up here use Observation Haki, or Mantra as they call it! Birds spit fire and lances burn you! But the most important piece of news...The City of Gold did not sink, but flew up into the air 400 years ago!"
"The City of Gold is up here?!" some of them yelled.
"That's right!" Nami answered with a big smile.
"Oh no. She's not going to let us leave until we get all the gold up here." Nojiko groaned.
"Don't we already have a ship full of treasure?" Grace asked.
"She's right. I don't think we can fit anymore on." Vivi added. As the crew began to speak about gold, Gan Fall watched them all with a critical eye.
'They've defeated two of Enel's Priests, treaded upon Upper Yard, and are in constant danger of death. And yet, they speak of venturing further in for something they call gold?' he thought. 'Do they not fear death?'
-In another Part of Upper Yard-
The two remaining Priests were fighting against the Shandians, who were fighting with everything they had to destroy them. The battle raged on as the Priests used Mantra to predict and avoid practically everything that the Shandians threw at them before the sun began to set. Wiper knew that nightfall would be to the Priests advantage and called for a retreat. The Priests would've followed, but they were summoned by God Enel.
-Hidden Shandian Village-
The Shandians had returned to their village to treat the wounded and rest after their assault on Upper Yard.
"Is this why you couldn't fight at your fullest?!" Wiper growled as he held the bag Laki had with her. "Is this why you nearly got killed?! Why Kamakiri had to step in and save you?!"
"Give it back! I promised Aisa!" Laki begged as Wiper nearly threw the bag, only for a wounded Kamakiri to stop him. "Kamakiri! Your wounds!"
"I can still fight!" Kamakiri said as they both let the bag of Vearth drop to the ground. "This absense of Satori and Shura were evident. We must mount another attack tomorrow. And then, we will no longer have to die for just one measly bag of Vearth." Wiper agreed, while Laki glared at them.
"Spread the word!" Wiper ordered. "Tomorrow, we head for God's Shrine!"
-God's Shrine-
"God, the Priests are here." said a giant fat angel.
"Send them in." said a bored voice.
"At once." replied the angel as he had the doors opened, only to see the two Priests, Ohm and Gedatsu, fighting against each other. "Not again. Every time you Priests see each other, it always ends in a fight."
"Hmph. With this fool, it is not even a fight." said Ohm.
"What?!" Gedatsu yelled before sucking in his bottom lip as he tried to cross his arms, only for an angel to tell him how it was correctly done. "Ah! How careless!"
"Calm down! You are in the presence of God!"
"Is that so?" Ohm asked as he and Gedatsu looked around. "Well, where is He?"
"Didn't He summon us here?" Gedatsu asked before the area sparked with electricity.
"SURPRISED YOU AGAIN!" called a voice before a man with long earlobes and a golden staff appeared from the lightning and back flipped into the chair, leaving the two Priests to spiral away from the attack. The Priests stopped their rolling and looked to see Enel sitting in his chair, a bored look across his face. "I am God. I am right here. That was a pitiful display. I do not wish for failures akin to what happened to Satori and Shura.
"What was that for?!" Gedatsu yelled.
"Making light sport of us." Ohm muttered. "Why have you summoned us here?"
"I was bored." was Enel's answer as he tossed an apple around in his hand. He laughed before telling them to sit down. "You two don't seem to be preoccupied by the Blue Sea Dwellers."
"Enel-sama, it this is about Shura and Satori, then those two were just inexperienced fools." said Ohm as he and Gedatsu walked forward and sat before Enel.
"Their choice of Ordeals were nothing but weak." Gedatsu stated.
"Maybe, maybe not." Enel said, his bored expression still present. "Still, the Blue Sea Dwellers managed to defeat them."
"Did you summon us here to warn us to be careful?" Gedatsu asked with a glare.
"Or is this about something else?" Ohm asked.
"Indeed. I summoned you here because I have a little game happening tomorrow, and everyone's participating. The Blue Sea Dwellers, Gan Fall, the Shandians, you two, and myself. As of tomorrow, the rules that each of you follow, in which you cannot interfere with another's Ordeal and such, is changed. You have free reign to fight where ever you want and however you wish."
"Why are you suddenly granting us so much power?" Gedatsu asked.
"Because the Maxim is complete." Enel stated as he bit into his apple, a smile on his face. "It's time to leave this island, and travel to the World of Dreams."
-With the Straw Hats-
The Straw Hats had set up camp and were now sitting around eating stew, with Gan Fall and Pierre as their guests.
"I don't want to impose." said Gan Fall.
"Don't worry about it. Think of it as a thank you for helping protect our friends and ship." Sanji said before bonking Luffy with the ladle. "Wait until the others have gotten their first bowl before you ask for seconds!"
"Everyone! Gather around!" Nami called as she pulled out two maps.
"Something up?" Nojiko asked.
"Tell me. What was written at the end of Norland's Logbook?" she asked with a smile.
"The last entry of Norland's Logbook stated that the City of Gold is located in the Skull's Right Eye." Robin answered. "I'm still curious as to what that means."
"Take a look at this." said Nami as she had the two maps close together. "The reason no one's been able to figure that out is because Jaya looks different. But if you connect these two maps at the point where Cricket's house was on the shore with the other half up here, this is what you get." Everyone looked at the two maps from above and saw something amazing. The two halves of Jaya looked just like a big skull. "This is Jaya's topography 400 years ago."
"It's a skull!"
"Oh wow! It is!"
"That's really cool!" The Straw Hats all smiled at the picture as Sanji praised Nami for her genius in discovering all this.
"So the lost City of Gold spoken in legend is right here?" Vivi asked as she pointed at the part map that had a little building drawn in the center of the right eye.
"That's it!" Nami answered with a smile. "And it's not far from here!"
"AHAHAHAHA! A GRAND ADVENTURE'S CALLING US!" Luffy yelled out loud. Nojiko stared at them, wondering how they could be excited about gold when they already had so much treasure.
'Ah well. It'll still be fun!' she thought with a smile.
"Still, all that hunting for gold will have to wait until we get the Merry off the altar." Nami stated before the men started arguing with the women about having a bonfire, saying that having one should be a law when camping. "Are you all stupid or something?!" Nami asked angrily.
"Hey Luffy! This enough firewood?" Sanji asked as he, Zoro, and Gin stood next to a huge pile of stacked logs.
"YOU ALL REALLY ARE STUPID, AREN'T YOU?!" Nami roared before they realized that they were surrounded by Cloud Wolves.
"Where'd they come from?!" Usopp yelled in fright as the leader, a Cloud Wolf with a scar over his eye, started barking and howling.
"What did he say Chopper?" Alvida asked.
"You lot are keeping us up! It's the middle of the night, and we're trying to sleep! Why don't you shitheaded humans can it already?!" Chopper said, immitating the wolf.
"What'd you call us?!" some of the men snarled at Chopper.
"I was just translating!" Chopper yelled in fear before he translated again for the wolf, who said that this was their turf and that they have no business here. That earned in a bump on the head from Nami, who was not going to let wolves stand in the way of her and her gold. The wolves looked ready to attack before the leader told them to back off, claiming that he had respect for Nami.
"So, no fighting?" Grace asked as she stood behind Valerie.
"I guess not." Usopp said.
"In that case, LET'S PARTY!" Luffy yelled. Next thing anyone knew, the Straw Hats and Cloud Wolves were all dancing around an enormous bonfire. Singing, dancing, howling, drinking, and laughing was heard all around the area.
"IT'S THE FESTIVAL OF THE EVE OF THE GREAT GOLD HUNT!"
"GOLD HUNT!"
"GOLD HUNT!"
'Are they always like this?' Pierre asked Carue in their native animal tongue.
'Almost always.' Carue answered back while Gan Fall stared in disbelief before smiling.
"You all seem very lively, despite the situation that you're all in." Gan Fall said as he sat next to Zoro and Robin a bit away from the party. "To cause such an uproar on Enel's land is quite a rare sight."
"Is it now?" Robin asked with a smile.
"Yes. No one has ever had the courage to do so since his reign began six years ago." Gan Fall stated.
"Then I guess that makes us the odd ones out." Zoro said with a smile. "Thanks for appearing and helping out our friends earlier."
"Shall I ask the cook to bring you more stew?" Robin asked.
"No thank you. I've had my fill." Gan Fall politely declined before they spoke about Skypiea being Jaya once, about the Shandians, and how they call it Vearth, the Eternal Yearning of the people. The party lasted lasted for a long time before the women retired to the tents, while the men passed out and slept outside, none of them knowing the Survival Game they were about to undertake.